Locking device for adjustable railroad braces



Oct. 7, 1941. w. E. oLDs LOCKING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE RAILROAD BRACES Filed May 13, 1940 4 sheets-Sheet 2 za l Oct. 7, 1941. w; E. oLDs 2,257,853

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE RAILROAD BRACES Filed May 15, 1940 4 sheets-Sheet 3 f 4 49 ,'25 1/9 WW W fi) r 1 1 l ,39 w L? J pullmllmfc: :T1424 f l I B` A l I I Oct. 7, 1941. w E QLDS 2,257,853

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE RAILROAD BRACES l Filed May 13, 19440 4 Sheets-SheefI 4,

Patented Get. 7, 1941 unirea S''TES i-DTE OFiFiCE LOCKING DEVICE FOR ADJUSTABLE RAILROAD BRACES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable rail braces and looking devices therefor. The object of the invention is to provide a looking device for adjustable rail braces and other purposes which employs a Wedge Which will permit` minute adjustments over a Wide range to permit a large total adjustment, but which Will nevertheless permit the use of sturdy and heavy parts and prevent interference by rust and dirt.

In many places upon a railroad right of way, the rails are exposed to unusually heavy thrusts and loads from passing rolling stock which result in a Wear of the rail surfaces upon which the Wheels bear with accompanying mis-alignment of the rails. In many places where this occurs, the extent of the Wear and resultant deformation of the rails is so slight it has no serious consequences. In many other places, however, the position of the rail edge is extremely important, such as at the switches and cross-cvers where the rail is interrupted and where the load to which the rail edges are exposed become extremely heavy and destructive. Thus, at a switch, where the thin end of the switch point bears against the stock rail, any mis-alignment or dislocation of the stock rail subjects the switch point to destructive loads which may bend or break it, and may derail 'passing cars.

In order to protect the portions of rails Which are required to be in accurate algnment against dislocation, and to render them readily adjustable after the rail has become worn, adjustable rail braces have long been provided to support the rail in its location and to permit the rail to be moved slightly from time to time to restore the inner edge to its correct position.

Adjustable rail braces are generally of two types: one, whcrein the brace abuts the fishing space of the rail and is held against the rail Web by a Wedge which in turn abuts against a fixed base secure-d solidly to the tie plate and railway tie; the other, where the wedge itself ts directly in the fishing space and against the web of the rail and abuts the brace which is secured solidly to the tie plates and ties.

This invention is applicable to both of these general types of adjustable rail braces, and the looking device is also applicable to numerous other structures requiring adjustability.

In both types of adjustable rail braces, the wedge which intervenes between the stationary portions of the structure and the rail web is employed to the necessary adjustments to move the rail so as to relocate its inner edge in the event of Wear and ms-alignment, and adjustment becomes desirable. This adjustment is effected by sliding the wedge the required distance along its longitudinal axis to increase the width of that portion of the wedge intervening between the statonary structure and the rail Web.

In order to prevent the adjusting Wedge from retreating after it has been driven or advanced to effect an adjustment of the rail, adjustable rail braces are commonly provided With some form of looking device. These looking devices are ordinarily of three types.

The first type of looking device is one in Which a series of teeth or serrations is provided along one edge of the wedge and a cnmplementary series of teeth or serrations is provided upon the adjacent edge of the adjustable rail brace or the base. When the wedge is driven into adjusting position the engagement of the teeth prevents the Wedge from retreating. One objection to this type of wedge is that if the teeth or serrations are small and closely spaced in order to permit a fine adjustment, their Strength is correspondingly limited, and their efliciency impaired by rough Wear and the accumulation of dirt between the teeth. Any increase in the size of the teeth to increase their strength decreases the precision and fineness of adjustment Which is available.

Another common method of looking adjustable rail braces is to use a bolt which is passed through the wedge with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the Wedge. Either the bolt or nut Which engages the bolt can be rotated to take up or shorten the Wedge. While this type of looking device provides an unlimited range of adjustment, the exposure of the bolt to corrosion and dirt and possible injury makes the device rather delicate and difficult to operate. In addition, if it is desired to secure a large total adjustment with this type of looking device it is necessary either to start the Wedge considerably off center from the brace or base *or to increase the angle of the wedge, which puts undue tensile stress on the bolt and endangers it.

A third familiar method of securing the wedge consists of providing the wedge With a series of closely spaced holes, which may be in a single roW or multiple rows. A pin Which passes through one of these holes is also provided and as the Wedge is advanced the pin may be driven through one of these holes and into engagement with some fixed point on the base or brace. The disadvantage of this device lies in the fact that to make the device. capable of fine adjustment it is necessary to group the holes closely together, Which necessarily limits their size and also requires the use of a pin or key of such small diameter as to lack the necessary strength to withstand the enormous pressures to which wedges of this character are subject.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a locking device for wedges upon adjustable rail braces which employs a series of holes in the wedge but so interrelated to a series of holes upon the stationary structure as to permit the use of a locking pin of large diameter and adequate strength and at the same time make the device capable of minute adjustment which can be accumulated into a large total adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable rail brace and the locking device therefor which can be cheaply and easily fabricated from the familiar materials of this art, can be easily assembled, and can be simply and quickly adjusted without the use of any special tools and special apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable rail brace in which the adjusting wedge can be advanced very short distances and locked in each successive position by a locking pin of substantial size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for an adjustable rail brace which can be made in a number of forms incorporating the principle of this invention.

A further object of the invention is to construct a locking device for adjustable rail braces which has no moving parts and which will be unaffected by the corrosion and exposure to dirt to which equipment of this character is constantly exposed. but which will nevertheless lend itself to precise and quick adjustment without any sacrifice of strength or durability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device suitable for use in many types of structures, and which will permit a large number of adjustments without unduly increasing the length of the respective members of the structure.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an adjustable rail brace embodying this invention, shown assembled;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same adjustable rail brace in partial section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and showing the construction of the wedge and the relation of the holes in the wedge to those in the base member by which the locking is effected;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the adjustable rail brace embodying this invention applied to a rail, of which a fragment is shown, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are plan views in partial section of the adjustable rail brace shown in Fig. 2, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3 and showing the wedge in a series of different positions to illustrate the method of adjusting the rail brace and of employing the locking device of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of another form of the adjustable rail brace embodying this invention;

Fig. 9 is an elevation in section of the structure shown in Fig. 8 taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 applied to a rail, of which a fragment is shown;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a small view of a short section of railroad track mounted on conventional railroad ties at a point where the switch point bears against the stock rail, and showing the position at which one of the adjustable rail braces of this invention would normally be installed.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are plan views in partial section of the locking device of this invention taken on the plane of Fig. 2 and showing three different forms in which this locking device may be incorporated in a simple wedge and base member.

The structure of the invention Referring to the drawings, Fig. 11 shows a short section of railway rails |5 and IG located on conventional tie members |1, at the point Where the switch points l8 would normally come into bearing against the stock rails l9. This figure also shows the adjustable rail brace of this invention installed upon the middle tie and adjacent ties.

In Fig. 1 this rail brace is shown in detail in plan view mounted upon a tie plate 21 which forms a base for the adjustable rail brace and extends under the rail, which is not shown in that figure, but of which a fragment |9 is shown in elevation in Fig. 3. This tie plate is provided with holes 22 by which it may be secured to a tie with suitable bolts. Secured to the tie plate 2| is the brace base 23 which may be either immovably secured thereto or made integral therewith. Above the brace base 23 is the brace shoe 24 which is slidably mounted upon the brace base and has faces 25 which fit snugly against the lower surface of the rail |9 and the upper surface of the rail flange 26. The lnner end of the brace shoe is formed with an inclined face 21, best shown in Fig. 2, which is also provided with a pair of slots 28 (Fig. 3) through which the bolts 29 may pass.

Opposite the brace shoe face 21 the brace base 23 is provided with an abutment 30. The wedge 3l, which has an inclined face 32 complementary to the inclined brace shoe face 21, is mounted snugly between the faces 30 and 21.

Surmounting the base 23 and covering the wedge 31 is the cover plate 33 which is provided with the holes 34. These holes register with a corresponding pair of threaded holes 35 running through the base 23 and the tie plate 31, and overlie the slots 28 in the brace shoe so that the brace shoe may be clamped between the o cover plate and the base by tightening the bolts- 29. If desired, suitable look washers 36 may also be employed to prevent loosening of the bolts 29.

The cover plate is also provided With the hole 31 which registers with a hole 38 in the brace base 23 to receive the locating pin 39, and to assist the bolts 29 in locating the cover plate with respect to the base 23.

The wedge 3I is provided with a series of slots, for convenience lettered A, B, C, D and E. As shown in Fig. 2, while the brace base 23 is provided with a series of holes a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h, the centers of which lie along longitudinal lines which underle these slots. Both the slots of the holes are of a size to receive the locking pin 40 which passes snugly through them and which is preferably tapered at the upper` end where it engages the cover plate 33 so that it may seat itself in the cover plate and may not be removed without removal of the cover plate.

Modified ,forms of structure The structure thus far described is that shown in Figs. 1-7 inclusive. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a modified form of structure is shown. In this structure no adjustable brace is employed as a separate element in the structure, but the wedge itself abuts directly against the brace base and against the rail.

The tie plate is indicated by the numeral E25 and the brace base by the numeral I23. These are either made integral or for simplicity in construction made separately and secured together by rivets or welding as indicated in Fig. 9.

The wedge I3i is located in the vertical instead of the horizontal plane shown in the previous figures and is provided with a series of vertical ribs l24, to give rigidity to the structure, which bear against the web of the rail I H9 and the shoe face |25, which bears against the underside of the rail H9.

The brace base E23 is provided with an abutment ili against which the inclined wedge face l32 abuts throughout the length of the wedge lili. The base face 130 and the wedge face iti! are complementary to provide contact and bearing throughout their adiacent surfaces.

At one end of the base 123 are mounted a pair of ears 135 between which the cover plate 133 is swingably mounted. At the other end of the cover plate it is provided with a perforated ear I 31 which enters between a pair of perforated ears 38 on the brace |23 where it may be secured by means of the cotter pin ltd.

The wedge l3| is provided with a series of verw tioal slots, A, B, C, I) and E, while the base l23 is provided with a series of aligned holes a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h, the centers of Awhich lie along longitudinal lines underlying the slots A, B, C, D and E.

The looking pin ME) passes snugly into the holes a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h and through the slots A, B, C, D and E to look the wcdge in successive position to which it may be advanced. For ease in insertion and removal, the pin may be tapered at one end and provided with a head at the other end.

In Figs. 12, 13 and le are shown modified forms of wedge and base for the structure shown in Figs. 1-7 inclusive. In Fig. 12 the wedge Zi, instead of being provided with slots, is provided with a series of semi-circular cuts along the faces which abut the base abutment 239 and the inclined brace face 221, while the face of the abutment 230 is similarly out with a series of semicircular cuts along the face and the inclined brace base 22? is provided with a series of similar serni-circular cuts. It is to be noted that the cuts in the respective faces of the wedge 2.3i are in the same transverse plane while the cuts on the abutment face 2353 and the brace face 22'? are staggered. When any of the semi-circular cuts along either face of the wedge 23! is aligned with the opposing cut on either the ahutment face 23h or the inclined brace face 221, they will form a circular hole which will receivethe looking pin 243 which is shown inserted therein.

In Fig. 13 the wedge 38! and the abutment on the base 333 and the inclined brace face 321' are similarly cut except that the cuts on the abutment 3353 and on the inclined brace face 32'! are aligned in the same transverse plane while the cuts on the respective sides of the wedge are staggered. When any of these semi-circular cuts is aligned with a cut on the face of the abutment 330 or upon the brace face 321, a circular hole will be formed which Will receive the looking pin 340.

In Fig. 14.- another form of structure is shown in which the face of the abutment 43% and the brace face 421 are constructed parallel and two intervening wedges 43m. and 43th are employed. Each of these has an inclined face 43m and (3326. The respective inclined faces are cut with a series of semi-circular cuts which, it will be neted, are not equally spaoed. If the respective wedges are slid along their longitudinal axes tWo of these cuts can be aligned to form a circular hole to receive the looking pin 440, a section of which is shown to indicate its insertion in one of the openings.

It is to be noted that the slots A, B, C, D and E are spaced equal distances from each other, and the respective rows of the holes a, c, e and g and the holes bi, d, f and h are spaced at regular intervals, but the distances between the slots A, B, C, D and E are not equal to the distances between the holes a, b, c, d, e, f, g` and h. The purpose of this irregular spacing will be discussed hereafter in the description of the operation of the device.

The principle of this invention can be embodied in structures in which the number of slots and the number of holes can be varied to a large extent by varying the size of the wedge and the related brace and base members. The Variation between the spacing of the holes in the base and the slots in the wedge may similarly be varied extensively, In the preferred form of this structure, to make the adjustability more uniform, I have made the spaces between the holes a, e, e and g one-eighth greater than the distances between adiacent slots A, B, C, D and E. Similarly, the holes by, d, f and h are preferably located with their centers also spaced apart a distance one-eighth greater than the distance between any adiacent pair of the slots A, B, C, D and E. Their centers are preferably located at points not equidistant from the centers of the adjacent holes in the row a, c, e and g, but the center of the hole b is located at a point removed beyond a line passing through the center of the hole cc one-half the distance between the slots A and B.

If the number of slots or holes is increased this Variation between the respective spacings will be varied accordingly; for example, if the number of holes in each row is increased to five, the distance between adjacent holes should be one-tenth greater than the distance between the adiacent slots. Similarly, by reducing the number of holes, as done in the structure shown in Fig. 14, the difference between adiacent cuts on one wedge member will he increased over the distance between the cuts on the adiacent wedge member. The greater the number of holes in proportion to the length of the wedge, the more minutely can the position of the wedge be adjusted.

Operation of the looking device When the rail is Originally installed the tie plate M is so located on the tie ll as to permit the assembly of the brace unit 2G with the brace shoe face 25 in firm contact with the rail I 9 and with the wedge inserted suiciently deeply in the space between the abutment 39 and the inclined brace face 21 to assure adequate support to the brace shoe ZE. If the parts are properly installed the wedge should be located approximately as indicated in Fig. 2 and it can be thereupon locked in position by dropping the locking pin 40 into the slot B in the wedge and the hole a in the base. The cover plate 33 can thereupon be placed in position, located by the locating pin 39 and the bolts 29, which can then be turned down tight to secure the cover plate in place and to securely hold the brace shoe 24 against movement.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, if the rail |9 has become worn or dislocated and it is desired to relocate it, the bolts 29 and the cover plate 33 are removed and the locking pin 40 can thereupon be lifted from its position.

As soon as the locking pin has been lifted from the slot B into hole a, in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the wedge may be driven forward (upward in the drawings), as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. The forward movement of the wedge along its longitudinal axis will force the inclined brace face 21 outwardly and move the brace shoe 24 outwardly. The engagement of the brace shoe faces 25 against the rail IQ and the rail flange 26 will force the rail outwardly and into its new position.

If the dislocation has been slight, the relocation can be accomplished by driving the wedge forward a short distance, indicated in Fig. 4, and the wedge can be locked into its new position by dropping the pin 40 into the slot C and the hole c. If this adjustment is not sufficient, the Wedge can be driven farther into the position indicated in Fig. 5, and the pin dropped into the slot D and the hole e. Further adjustment can be made and the Wedge relocated and locked as indicated in the successive Figs. 6 and '7, in Fig. 6 with the locking pin 40 in the slot E and the hole g, and in Fig. 7 with the pin in the slot B and the hole b.

Further adjustments of the locking device can be eected by successive relocations of the wedge in the various positions in which the slots and holes will register to permit the insertion of the locking pin 40. The ordinary sequence of these alignments in the structure shown in Figs. 1-7 vvill be as follows: B-a, C-c, D-e, E-g, B-b, C-d, D-f, E-h, A-a, B-c, C-e, D-g, A-b, B-d, C-f, D-h, A-c, B--e, C-g, A-d, B-f, C-h, etc. If further relocations are required a wider wedge may be used with a similar series of P slots or the length of the wedge and the number of slots may be increased to provide the requisite range of adjustment.

It is to be noted that because the holes a, b, c,

d, e, f, g and h are spaced apart a distance onef;

eighth greater than the distance between the slots A, B, C, D and E, the wedge will be moved a distance equal to the spacing between one pair of adjacent slots in eight successive moves. If a wider base were used and the number of rows of holes increased, this spacing between the holes could be reduced and the fineness of the adjustment increased accordingly.

With the rail properly relocated and the Wedge locked in position, the cover plate 33 can be replaced and the bolts 29 placed into the threaded holes provided for them and turned down tight so as to lock the brace shoe in position.

The structure shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is operated in substantially the same manner. The cotter pin 139 is removed and the gate ISS is swung into open position to give access to the locking pin E40 which can then be withdrawn from the hole in the base 123 and the slot in the Wedge |3l and the Wedge driven forward until the necessary readjustment of the rail l 19 is effected when the locking pin [40 can be reinserted into the respective slot and underlying hole Which are in registry. This structure, like that heretofore described, renders itself adaptable to many varia-tions by increasing the width of the base and the number of rows of holes cut therein and by increasing the length of the Wedge and the number of slots cut therein to extend the range of total adjustment available.

In the structures shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the wedge is made accessible by removal of the bolts and cover plate shown in Fig. 1 and the wedge driven forward to relocate the rail. The wedge can thereupon be locked by inserting the locking pin into the hole formed by the registry of one of the semi-circular cuts cut into the abutting faces of the wedge and one of those cut into the brace or base members.

In the structure shown in Fig. 14 either of the wedge members 43 l a or 43lb may be driven for- Ward until the semi-circular cuts in the respective wedge faces 432a and 43211 are in alignment to receive the locking pin 440. In this structure, because only four cuts are cut into the Wedge member 43la, the distance between them is only one-fourth greater than the distance between any pair of cuts on the adjacent wedge member 431 b, and the fineness of the adjustment is correspondingly limited.

Although the locking device of this invention has been shown applied to an adjustable rail brace, it is evident that it is capable of numerous variations in form and numberless applications to structures requiring a variable adjustment between a stationary member and a movable member.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An adjustable brace comprising a stationary member, a movable member, an interjacent wedge slidable between said members to spread them apart and adjust the space between them, a series of holes in said wedge and equally spaced therein, a plurality of rows of holes in said stationary member positioned adjacent the holes in said Wedge and so spaced that only one of said holes will register with a hole in said wedge at a time and that successive registrations Will be affected when said wedge is advanced by steps of a uniform distance along said stationary member, and a locking pin to project through said wedge into said stationary member.

2. An adjustable rail brace comprising a tie plate, a stationary base member secured to said tie plate, an abutment thereon, a brace member movable on said base member in a direction normal to the face of said abutment, an inclined abutment in said brace, a wedge With a face to engage said stationary abutment and an inclined face to engage said brace abutment, a series of holes in said Wedge spaced equidistantly therein, a plurality of series of holes in said base, the holes of each series being spaced equidistantly from each other by a distance greater than the distance between the holes in said wedge, each of the holes in said base being registerable with the holes in said wedge but only one of said holes being registerable with a hole in said Wedge at a time, a locking pin to engage a hole in said wedge and a hole in said base member when in registration, and securing means to secure said brace to said stationary member in various relative positions.

3. An adjustable rail brace comprising a tie plate, a stationary base member secured to said tie plate, an abutment on said member, a brace member movable thereon in a direction normal to the face of said abutment, an inclined abutment in said brace, a Wedge with a face to engage said stationary abutment and an inclined face to engage said brace abutment, a series of holes in said Wedge spaced equidistantly therein, a plurality of series of holes in said base, the holes of each series being spaced equidistantly from each other by a distance greater than the distance between the holes in said wedge, each of the holes in said base being registerable with the holes in said Wedge but only one of said holes being registerable with a hole in said Wedge at a time, a locking pin to engage a hole in said Wedge and a hole in said base member When in registration, a cover plate to cover said wedge and said looking pin said cover plate being provided With a plurality of recesses registering with the holes in said base member, the recess registering with the hole in said wedge which engages said looking pin in la particular position of registration being adapted to snugly receive the other end of said locking pin extending upwardly through said wedge, and securing means to secure said brace to said stationary member in various relative positions.

4. An adjustable rail brace comprising a tie plate, a stationary base member secured to said tie plate and provided With an abutment thereon, a brace member movable on said base member in a direction normal to the face of said abutment, an inclined abutment in said brace, a wedge with a face to engage such stationary abutment and an inclined face to engage said brace abutment, a series of slots in said wedge spaced equidistantly along the longitudinal axi's thereof and extending transversely of said axis, a plurality of series of holes in said base, the holes of each series being spaced equidistantly from each other by a distance greater than the distance between the holes in said wedge, each of the holes in said base being registerable with the holes in said Wedge, but only one of said holes being registerable with a hole in said Wedge at a time, a cover plate extending over said Wedge and the adjacent portions of said brace and base members, said plate being provided with recesses therein registering with the holes in said base member, a removable pin extending from a hole in said base member through the registering slot in said wedge and into the registering recess in said cover plate to look the base, Wedge and plate in fixed position With respect to each other, said pin being adapted to be received in any of the holes and slots Which are in register, means for securing the cover plate to said base member, said means being adapted to secure the brace member to the base member in any of the various relative positions of the brace with respect to the base.

WILLIAM E. OLDS. 

